Phumzile Van Damme steps down as DA national spokesperson

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 14: Democratic Alliance (DA) National Spokesperson Phumzile van Damme speaks during the 2017 State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate at the National Assembly on February 14, 2017 in Cape Town, South Africa. Political parties debated President Jacob Zuma’s SONA which was marred by chaos, violence and insults. (Photo by Gallo Images / Beeld / Jaco Marais)

The Democratic Alliance’s Phumzile van Damme has resigned as the party’s national spokesperson.

Van Damme took to Twitter to announce her resignation on Tuesday evening.

The Member of Parliament says she would like to commit more time to studying towards a masters degree and starting a family.

She says she will remain in her position as shadow minister of communications.

It is true, I have resigned as DA National Spokesperson. I remain a member of the party, an MP and the Shadow Minister of Communications. I love the DA, and am committed to building a better future for SA with a party I love.

There will no doubt be lots of speculation. I would very much love to excluded from narratives that paint me as a poor woman who was bullied by men as if often the narrative of women in the DA. That’s not who I am & not what happened.

I will be focusing on other pursuits, I’m a newly wed & would to start a family (no I’m not pregnant). I’ve registered for a part-time long distance Master/. I want more balance in my life, focusing on fixing the country, as well as me.